Toilet leveling clips

ABSTRACT

A system and method for leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange. The system includes a set of devices each having a plate portion and a lip portion. The set of devices are attachable under a base of a toilet prior to installation of the toilet over a toilet flange. The set of devices raise a height of the toilet and create a distance for the toilet to have a proper connection to the toilet flange without disrupting an existing pipe system and/or existing flooring. As such, the set of devices may fix toilet flange height issues in a short amount of time, may prevent a redo of the existing flooring and tiles, and may save cost and time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of toilets of existing art and more specifically relates to accessories for leveling toilets for installation over a high or otherwise unlevel toilet flange.

RELATED ART

A toilet is a plumbing fixture that is installed in line with an opening in a floor and connected to a piping system, enabling the toilet to carry waste therethrough. Commonly, a toilet flange is installed in the opening prior to installation of the toilet. The toilet flange is configured for connection with a base of the toilet. It is important that this connection be a strong and watertight connection so as to prevent any waste and/or water from leaking therefrom. However, many times it is difficult to create a proper connection between the toilet flange and the toilet. For example, the flooring around the toilet flange may be unlevel, meaning that the toilet flange may sit too high to create a proper connection with the toilet. This often results in a complete redo of the flooring and piping system, resulting in an unreasonable amount of time and money spent on the simple task of installing a toilet. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known toilet accessory art, the present disclosure provides novel toilet leveling clips. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a system used for leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange, thereby fixing flange height issues and uneven flooring/tiles and preventing a need to redo previous work on flooring and pipes.

A system for leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange is disclosed herein. The system may include at least one device. The at least one device may include a plate portion and a lip portion. The plate portion may be configured to raise a base of the toilet. The plate portion may include a front edge opposite a rear edge, a length therebetween and a thickness. The length may be substantially parallel to a floor surface (when the at least one device is installed). The lip portion may be attached about the rear edge of the plate portion and may extend at least substantially perpendicular to the plate portion.

According to another embodiment, a method of leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange is also disclosed herein. The method may include the steps of providing the system as above wherein the at least one device includes a set of devices each including the plate portion and the lip portion; and installing each device from the set of devices between a floor surface and a base of the toilet where needed, front edge first, thereby raising a height of the toilet relative to the toilet flange.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, toilet leveling clips, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a system being used to level a toilet atop a toilet flange, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side partial cross-sectional view of the system of FIG. 1 and illustrating the toilet flange relative to the toilet, the toilet flange being shown via broken lines for clarity, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the system of FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the system of FIG. 1 with a base of the toilet shown via broken lines for clarity, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front side perspective view of a device including a plate portion and a lip portion, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a rear side perspective view of the device including the plate portion and the lip portion, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to toilet accessories and more particularly to toilet leveling clips. The toilet leveling clips may include a set of small clips that may be attached under a base of a toilet prior to installation of the toilet over a toilet flange. The set of small clips may raise the toilet up between ½-1 inch, thereby creating distance for the toilet to have a proper connection to the toilet flange without disrupting a current pipe system and/or existing flooring. As such, the toilet leveling clips may fix toilet flange height issues in a short amount of time, may prevent a redo of the existing flooring and tiles, and may save cost and time.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7 , various views of a system 100. The system 100 may be used for leveling a toilet 5 atop a toilet flange 7. For example, if the toilet flange 7 sits too high for the toilet 5 being installed, a user may utilize the system 100 to raise a base 6 of the toilet 5, thereby increasing a distance between the base 6 and a floor surface 10 (FIG. 2 ) and enabling the toilet flange 7 to make a proper connection to the toilet 5.

The system 100 may include at least one device 200. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1-5 , the at least one device 200 may include a set of devices 200 configured for placement about the base 6 of the toilet 5. For example, in some embodiments, the set of devices 200 may include 4-8 devices 200. As such, the user may place a device 200 at each appropriate location under the base 6 of the toilet 5. The device 200 may be discrete so as to not draw attention away from an appearance of a room in which the toilet 5 is installed. As such, in some embodiments, the devices 200 may be transparent. In other embodiments, the devices 200 may be a white color. It should also be appreciated that the devices 200 are not limited to being white, transparent, or even discrete.

Further, the devices 200 may be configured to withstand a weight of the toilet 5 and resist breakage or damage thereto. For example, in some embodiments, the device 200 may be made from a sturdy and durable plastic material. However, it should be appreciated that the devices 200 are not limited to the plastic material.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 6-7 , each device 200 may include a plate portion 110 and a lip portion 120. The plate portion 110 may include a front edge 112 opposite a rear edge 114, a length 116 therebetween and a thickness 118. In some embodiments, the plate portion 110 may also include a top surface 115 opposite a bottom surface 117 (the thickness 118 being between the top surface 115 and the bottom surface 117). As shown in FIG. 7 , the lip portion 120 may include a top edge 122 opposite a bottom edge 124 and a height 126 therebetween.

Further, as shown, the length 116 of the plate portion 110 may be substantially parallel to the floor surface 10 (FIG. 2 ) when the device 200 is installed. As shown in FIGS. 6-7 , the lip portion 120 may be attached about the rear edge 114 of the plate portion 110 and may extend at least substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 110. For example, the lip portion 120 may extend between 0.5-1 inch from the plate portion 110. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1-4 , the lip portion 120 may extend about sides of the base 6 of the toilet 5. As above, the devices 200 may be discrete. As such, in some embodiments, the lip portion 120 of at least one of the devices 200 may include a curvature that conforms to the base 6 of the toilet 5. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 , the device 200 including the curvature may be placed at a front of the base 6 of the toilet 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5 particularly and as discussed above, the plate portion 110 may be configured to raise the base 6 of the toilet 5. As such, the plate portion 110 may be provided in a variety of thicknesses, enabling the user to select a thickness 118 of the plate portion 110 that enables them to properly align the toilet flange 7 with the toilet 5. For example, in some embodiments, the plate portion 110 may be provided in a 0.25 inch thickness 118; a 0.50 inch thickness 118; a 0.75 inch thickness 118; and/or a 1 inch thickness 118. However, it should be appreciated that the plate portion 110 is not limited to these thickness 118 sizes.

Further, the devices 200 may also include a fastener means 131 configured to fasten the device 200 to the base 6 of the toilet 5. For example, in some embodiments, the fastener means 131 may include an adhesive 132. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6 , at least a portion of the adhesive 132 may be located on the top surface 115 of the plate portion 110. Further, as shown, a remaining portion of the adhesive 132 may be located on a front surface 125 of the lip portion 120. As such, the top surface 115 of the plate portion 110 and the front surface 125 of the lip portion 120 may be pressed against a bottom of the base 6 to adhere the device 200 to the toilet 5. The adhesive 132 may be of a strength sufficient enough to adhere the device 200 to the base 6 of the toilet 5 whilst simultaneously preventing damage to the base 6 of the toilet 5 and enabling removal of the devices 200 for when a new toilet 5 is to be installed.

Referring now to FIG. 8 showing a flow diagram illustrating a method 300 of leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method 300 may include one or more components or features of the system 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method 300 may include the steps of: step one 301, providing the system as above; step two 302, installing each device from the set of devices between a floor surface and a base of the toilet where needed, front edge first, thereby raising a height of the toilet relative to the toilet flange; and step three 303, fastening each device from the set of devices to the base of the toilet via a fastener means. As discussed above, the fastener means may be adhesive. As such, the step 303 of fastening each device from the set of devices to the base of the toilet via the fastener means may include pressing the adhesive against the bottom of the base of the toilet to adhere the device to the toilet (for each of the devices).

It should be noted that certain steps may be optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method 300 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 8 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method 300. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

1: A system for leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange, the system comprising: at least one device including: a plate portion having a front edge opposite a rear edge, a length therebetween and a thickness, the length being substantially parallel to a floor surface, the plate portion being located between the toilet and the floor surface and being configured to raise a base of the toilet; and a lip portion attached about the rear edge of the plate portion, the lip portion extending at least substantially perpendicular to the plate portion. 2: The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one device includes a fastener means configured to fasten the at least one device to the base of the toilet. 3: The system of claim 2, wherein the fastener means includes adhesive. 4: The system of claim 3, wherein the plate portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface relative to the floor surface, and wherein at least a portion of the adhesive is located on the top surface. 5: The system of claim 4, wherein the thickness of the plate portion is 0.25 inches. 6: The system of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the plate portion is 0.50 inches. 7: The system of claim 6, wherein the thickness of the plate portion is 0.75 inches. 8: The system of claim 7, wherein the thickness of the plate portion is 1 inch. 9: The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one device is transparent. 10: The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one device includes a set of devices each configured for placement around the base of the toilet. 11: The system of claim 10, wherein the set of devices includes between 4-8 devices. 12: A system for leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange, the system comprising: a set of devices each configured for placement under a base of the toilet, the set of devices each including: a plate portion having a front edge opposite a rear edge, a length therebetween and a thickness, the length being substantially parallel to a floor surface, the plate portion being located between the toilet and the floor surface and being configured to raise a base of the toilet; and a lip portion attached about the rear edge of the plate portion, the lip portion extending at least substantially perpendicular to the plate portion. 13: The system of claim 12, wherein the set of devices includes between 4-8 devices. 14: The system of claim 13, wherein each device from the set of devices further includes a fastener means configured to fasten each of the devices to the base of the toilet. 15: The system of claim 14, wherein the fastener means includes adhesive. 16: The system of claim 15, wherein the plate portion includes a top surface and a bottom surface relative to the floor surface, and wherein at least a portion of the adhesive is located on the top surface. 17: The system of claim 16, wherein the thickness of the plate portion is one of 0.25 inches, 0.50 inches, 0.75 inches and 1 inch. 18: The system of claim 17, wherein each device from the set of devices is transparent. 19: A method of leveling a toilet atop a toilet flange, the method comprising: providing a system for leveling the toilet, the system including: a set of devices each including: a plate portion having a front edge opposite a rear edge, a length therebetween and a thickness, the length being substantially parallel to a floor surface, the plate portion being located between the toilet and the floor surface and being configured to raise a base of the toilet; and a lip portion attached about the rear edge of the plate portion, the lip portion extending at least substantially perpendicular to the plate portion; and installing each device from the set of devices between a floor surface and a base of the toilet where needed, front edge first, thereby raising a height of the toilet relative to the toilet flange. 20: The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: fastening each device from the set of devices to the base of the toilet via a fastener means. 